Whether you’re hosting a baby shower or having one thrown for you, there comes a time where you have to plan things to do at the party.
There are many things you can do from sticking to tradition or doing something completely out the box.
If you’re looking for unique ideas, you’ve come to the right place!
When To Have a Baby Shower
Before getting into some ideas for things to do at a baby shower, let’s talk about when to actually have a baby shower. For most moms-to-be, the beginning of the third trimester is prime time to host a shower.
They are typically coming out of morning sickness and finally getting the hang of carrying around a growing baby. If you are hosting a baby shower for your friend, relative, or coworker, be sure to check their schedule for the best time to host one.
Depending on the season, you’ll also want to take into consideration venues (indoor vs. outdoor), travel from out-of-towners, foods, and so on.
Overall, check with the mom-to-be unless it’s going to be a surprise. In that case, get with some of her closest family members and friends to plan the best baby shower surprise ever!
After you’ve decided on the baby shower theme, and what to give for baby shower favors, now you need to plan for how you will pass the time with your guests!
Let’s get into what happens at a baby shower.
Things to Do at a Baby Shower
Once you’ve worked out the who, where, and when – it’s time to work on the what. There are so many things to do at a baby shower, so we’ll look at some of the most popular options.
Play Games
One of the funnest things to do at a baby shower is to play games. There is a game for just about everything, but here are some of the most popular:
- Baby Bingo
- Scrabble
- Word Search
- Don’t Say Baby (clothes pin game)
- Ice ice baby
- Guess what’s in the diaper
- How big is mom (toilet paper game)
These are just a few, but often some of the go-to baby shower games that can make for some pretty big laughs.
Remember to consider throwing in prizes for the winners. It can be something as small as a dollar store gift or a gift card to a local restaurant.
Photo Booth
Setting up a photo booth to snap some candids adds a perfect touch to a baby shower. Give each guest a chance to take a picture with the mom-to-be with some cute props so she (or someone else) can create a memorable scrapbook.
The photo booth can also be open for snapping other funny pictures with cute accessories.
Food
Most baby showers have a nice lineup of food that typically goes with the theme. Even if you’re going for a brunch-style baby shower, or one with finger foods, having food has always been a way of treating the people that attend.
To help alleviate some of the stress of planning for food, consider having it catered or make it a potluck.
Gifts
What’s a baby shower without having gifts for the mom-to-be? Gifts have traditionally been saved for the end of the baby shower and have always been a good way to wrap things up.
Gifts for your pregnant friend, sister, or a family member are the perfect way to celebrate at the baby shower.
Regardless of where you plan for the mom-to-be to open her gifts, make sure it’s an important part of the party. She should be the center of attention, be able to easily access gifts, and have help with opening them and putting them to the side.
I always had an assembly line of sorts at my baby showers to keep the process smooth and flowing.
What can you do instead of baby shower games?
Suppose you’d like to switch things up and stay clear of having baby shower games. In this case, it’s time to think outside the box. Here are a few ideas to consider in lieu of having games:
- Dance portion using the mom-to-be’s favorite songs.
- Diaper raffle.
- Onesie making station.
- Advice and wishcards.
- Create a keepsake box.
- Storytime (filled with stories of how guests know the mom-to-be).
These are easy to plan and rarely take very many supplies. If you don’t plan on playing games, that’s okay!
You can choose to let people know in the invitation with a message like, “In lieu of games we will ______.”
At the same time, don’t feel pressured to let people know the complete itinerary.
Final Thoughts
Having a baby shower is such a blessing and at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re celebrating the mom-to-be.
The key to hosting any successful baby shower is to keep the mom-to-be in mind and have a plan.
What are some things you like to do at a baby shower? Let me know in the comments below!
Save this to your baby shower Pinterest board!